Obituary of Phyllis Ruth Craig

Phyllis Ruth Craig, affectionately known to family and friends as Ruthie, died peacefully on September 6, 2011. She was born on March 7, 1915, in Lennoxville, QC, the sixth child of Prof. Henry Chadwick and Maria Harriet (Kerr) Burt. She grew up loving the outdoors and spending time with her sisters, Elsa and Marion. Ruthie taught kindergarten before moving to Pittsburg to work in an ammunitions factory during WWII. She was married to the Ven. Alexander Barlow Craig (b. 1916-d.1999), formerly Archdeacon in the Anglican Diocese of Fredericton, on June 14, 1944, in Salmon Arm, BC where Alec was rector. They next moved to Creston, BC, and later to Saskatoon, SK, before locating to New Brunswick in 1959, where they served parishes in Newcastle, Saint John, and finally Fredericton. She was a member of the Anglican Church Women, many diocesan boards, a Junior & Girls Auxiliary leader, a foster mother, and enjoyed creative activities including poetry, playwriting, oil and water colour painting, gardening, rug hooking, knitting and sewing. Ruthie moved to Saint John in 2002 to the Admiral Beatty to be closer to her daughter, where she made many friends and enjoyed attending Trinity Church. Her proudest achievement was being the mother of Patricia, Paul (b. 1948 – d. 2008) and David. Ruthie is survived by her family; Patricia Craig and husband Michael Green of Saint John, daughter-in-law Judith Craig of Yellowknife, and David Craig and partner Katherine Knight of Toronto; her niece Nanette Barkham and family of Niagara Falls; as well as her grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Christopher Brittain and wife Katja of Aberdeen, Scotland, Jonathan Brittain and Sandy Knight of Toronto, Pamela Osmond and husband Steven, Scott Craig, wife Crystal, and their children Dawson, Gavin, and Hailey, all of Yellowknife, Aaron and Michael Kyle-Green (and Missty) of Saint John, Melanie Trubiano, husband Tony and daughter Angelina Slight of Montreal, and Alyssa Firszt, husband Raffi and son Benjamin, of Salt Lake City. The family would like to specially thank Ruthie’s two spectacular care-givers and best friends, Joanne McGraw (also Ruthie’s goddaughter) and Patricia (Tricia) Debra Tucker, her former son-in-law Robert Brittain and his wife Christine, Rev. Dr. Ranall Ingalls of Trinity, as well as the staff at Bobby’s Hope House, Hospice, Saint John, where she spent her last weeks. A funeral will not be held, as family and friends celebrated her life privately at Hospice on September 2. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Bobby’s Hope House or the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund. Her body will be cremated and ashes buried next to her husband’s in the cemetery of the parish of Saint John’s in Fredericton. She will be remembered for her humour and her loving and generous spirit. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…" (Psalm 23). Arrangements are under the care and direction of Brenan's Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John (634-7424). Online condolences and remembrances may be placed at www.BrenansFH.com.